Pittsburgh, PA

Mar 7, 2018

11:45 am - 2:00 p.m.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM - Registration

12:15 PM - 2:00 PM - Program

How M&A Transactions Are Generating Record Growth for MSA Safety Incorporated

Founded in Pittsburgh in 1914, MSA is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures. Today, the company has annual sales in excess of $1.1 billion, driven in part by key acquisitions in both domestic and international markets. Ken Krause, MSA's chief financial officer, treasurer and vice president, has helped guide MSA through more than $400 million in strategic acquisition investments since 2015. Ken will share how the company leverages such transactions to supplement its organic growth strategy, discuss the lessons learned from their most significant acquisitions, and offer insights into the role M&A activities will play in MSA's future.

Kenneth Krause

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Kenneth Krause is Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for MSA Safety Incorporated, a global leader in the development, manufacture, sale, and service of innovative products that enhance the safety and health of workers and protect facility infrastructures. With annual sales of $1.15 billion and global operations in more than 40 locations, MSA’s comprehensive line of safety products and gas detection instruments are used by workers around the world in the energy sector, fire service, mining, construction, and utility industries, as well as the military.
Under Mr. Krause’s leadership, MSA has executed on over $400 million of strategic acquisitions and has seen significant improvements in profitability and cash flow, resulting in top quartile performance with regard to stock price and total shareholder return. In particular, Mr. Krause has played integral roles in executing the financial aspects of MSA’s corporate strategy. This includes modernizing the company’s capital structure and renegotiating credit facilities that provide the company with access to more than $700 million of capital at historically low rates. Most recently, Mr. Krause led efforts to create a global value creation roadmap that, over the past two years, has delivered more than $20 million in cost savings and over 20 percent growth in earnings.
Mr. Krause began his career with MSA in 2006 as Director of Internal Audit. In 2009 he was promoted to Director of Decision Support, a controllership function responsible for accounting, financial reporting and planning, forecasting, and analysis across all of MSA's global regions. From 2013 to 2015 Mr. Krause served as Executive Director of Global Finance and Assistant Treasurer, responsible for financial planning and analysis, tax compliance and planning, treasury management, investor relations, and portfolio management of MSA's defined benefit pension plan.
Prior to joining MSA, Mr. Krause spent more than seven years in public accounting, serving most recently as Senior Manager of Assurance Advisory Services at KPMG, LLP.
Mr. Krause is a Certified Public Accountant, holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.